Come celebrate the release of Zeus and Athena (and some other swell books, too)

Are you going to be in the Brooklyn area May 1st? Come down to the gigantic book release party we're having at the best comics shop in the known universe, Bergen Street Comics! In addition to me and my own books, Zeus: King of the Gods and Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess, I will be joined by Mike (Foiled) Cavallaro, Pascal (City of Spies) Dizin, and Leland (Resistance Book 1) Purvis.

Our release party starts at 7, and there will be refreshments and stuff, but kids and kids-at-heart should join us earlier at 5 for games and a general celebration of Free Comic Book day (our books will NOT be free, but we will have free materials that are way cool). Plus-- anyone who buys one of our book will be entered into a drawing to win the original black and white artwork for the jam piece above, by all 4 creators! Snap!

Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess released today!

So if you're the sort of person who enjoys making their comics purchases in a bookstore or online, today is the day that Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess is released! Woot!

If you're more of a comics shop traditionalist, you will be able to find Athena tomorrow at all finer comics shops with the normal Wednesday comics shipment.

Guest Artist Gallery: Erin Stead

It's been a while since I posted a new Guest Artist Gallery of the Gods (but you all did catch my special addendum of Reilly Brown's Kid Typhon, right?) so I figured we were due a new installment. Today we will leave the hallowed halls of comcs for my other artistic love: Picture books. Please enjoy illustrator Erin Stead's depiction of the Moirae (that's the Fates to you and me, bub).



Here's what Erin has to say about her choice:
"from left to right you have Klotho, Lakhesis, and Atropos. They are my favorite because everyone else (gods, goddesses, whatever) can think that they have some control over who they eat or kill or love– but it's really up to these three nosy old ladies. "

Erin and I first met around 8 years ago, where we both worked at Books of Wonder in NYC. She and her husband, the author and illustrator Philstead (always say it as one word) now reside in Ann Arbor, with their dog Wednesday, but they both secretly wish they were back in the Big Apple. Erin's first picture book, written by that Philstead character is A Sick Day for Amos McGee and is due out May25th from Roaring Brook Press. Reserve a copy now-- it (and the Steads) are destined for greatness with this one. You read it here first!



Check out Erin's blog for more of her beautiful art!

EDIT! Just forwarded to me by her editor is this awesome review of Amos McGee from SLJ, with many other links to many other cool stuff. You're going to be hearing a lot more about this book!

Kids Comics Day at Books of Wonder in NYC!

Books of Wonder, the famed independent children's bookstore in Manhattan will be having a Kids Comics celebration Saturday, April 17th, from 12 to 2 pm. There's going to be more cartoonists than you can shake a stick at: In addition to myself, attending will be my studiomates Dean Haspiel and Mike Cavallaro, First Second-designer-turned-author Colleen AF Venable, First family of Comix Art Spiegelman, Francois Mouly, and Nadja Spiegelman, and more. If you'll be in the area, come on down!

New Title Alert!

Well, it will be almost a year until the book hits stores (not like Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess, out next week, but the book formerly known as The Glory of Hera will now officially be known as Hera: The Goddess and her Glory. The folks in sales thought it was important that we continue the naming style we had established so far with Zeus: King of the Gods and Athena: Grey Eyed Goddess, with the god or goddess's name first, followed by subtitle. Certainly when all twelve volumes are completed, it will look nicer this way, and help people to find the separate volumes easier.

I'm still hard at work coloring Hera: The Goddess and her Glory but let me tell you-- so far it's my favorite of the series. In addition to telling the story of the courtship and wedding of Zeus and Hera, you also get to see the story of Io, the Twelve Labors of Heracles, meet Jason and the Argonauts and see what happens on that mysterious day every year when Hera abandons her position as the wife of Zeus and Queen of the Gods. Cool stuff, if I may say so myself.

MOCCA fest in NYC!

Hey, if you're in the NYC area this weekend and are a fan of some of the best comics art there is, come on down to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art's annual Art Festival! There will be tons of great stuff to see, and yours truly will be signing copies of Zeus, Athena, Ball-Peen Hammer, Journey into Mohawk Country, and whatever else you stick in front of me at the First Second Booth on Sunday at 2 pm. Hope to see you there!

Fan Art Forum! Cyclops!

It's time for another installment of the Fan Art Forum! Got a drawing of your favorite mythological character? Want to see it posted online? Send me your drawing!



I recently did an appearance at the library at East Elmhurst in Queens where I showed the kids how to draw some of the characters in Zeus and Athena. This terrific drawing of a cyclops comes from Ovidio, who finished it up after I left and asked the librarian to send it to me. Great job, Ovidio! By the way, I don't know if Ovidio knows this, but he was made for mythology. He shares a name with Ovid, the famous Roman writer who gave us the Metamorphoses, one of the most famous ancient sources we have of Greek myths. A lot of what happens in my newest book, Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess, comes from sources provided by Ovid.

It looks like we have another famous Ovid(io) on our hands! If you'd like to see your own drawing here, please send me a scan of it (if you can) and a few words and we'll post it. I'd love to see your drawings!

Appearance: Teen Book Con in Houston!

Do you live in or near Houston Texas and want to meet me and a whole slew of other talented authors and artists? April 10th I'll be appearing at the greater Houston Teen Book Con with great folks like Jimmy (Amelia Rules) Gownley, Terry (Strangers in Paradise) Moore, and the Fillbach brothers (Maxwell Strangewell). The whole event is free with a keynote speech by Sharon Draper. Check out their website or Facebook page for more info. I hope to see you there!

Olympians Book 2: Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess out soon!

On or around April 13th, I believe, you'll be able to get your very own copy of Athena: Grey Eyed Goddess at your favorite bookstore, comic shop or etailer. In honor of this momentous occasion, and also as a nod to the new Clash of the Titans movie that just came out, here is a preview of one of my favorite pages from Athena, a wordless section depicting Perseus and Medusa. Enjoy!

Introducing the Fan Art Forum!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Fan Art Forum! Got a drawing of your favorite mythological character? Want to see it posted online? Send me your drawing!

Starting us off is this wonderful piece by JP. JP is almost 13 years old, and is a huge Percy Jackson fan (me too!). He's been taking art lessons since he was 4 and wants to be a comics artist when he grows up (also me too!). Previously JP was awarded "Demigod of the Week" status at Rick Riordan's blog for this awesome drawing of Percy Jackson.

Here's JP in his own words talking about his choice for the Fan Art Forum:

"My drawing is of Odysseus, son of Laertiades, prince of Ithica. He is by far my favorite mythological person! Thank you so much for the opportunity to do this!"





Pretty cool, huh? If you'd like to see your own drawing here, please send me a scan of it (if you can) and a few words and we'll post it. I'd love to see your drawings!